The Atom : The Last Man on Earth #3

[SUPERECWFAN1]

As usual I will apologize for all grammar errors here and now. So happy reading folks...


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The Atom : The Last Man on Earth


Previously - Ray Palmer was traveling alone in this future world , believing himself the Last Man on Earth. He found a teenage girl named Maxine who reveals there is a colony and her father leads it. Can Palmer make it there alive with Maxine ? What other horrors will he face along the way ?


Early that day

The sun seemed to bake both of them as they walked through the woods. Both , Ray Palmer and Maxine seemed to push themselves to make it quicker. It was the middle of summer and the heat was very intense on their skins . Finally at a pond Maxine seemed ready to dive in as Palmer yanked her back by the backpack .

"What ? Its water and I at least wanna pour some over my head." Maxine said.

"It could be infected by the virus. I have to check it first Maxine." he started pulling an instrument from his bag , "If it goes green its safe. If its red its not."

The meter flashed green which made Palmer breath easy as the young girl dived in happily. Splashing Palmer a bit while he wiped the water from his duster , sitting back on the grass. Filling the canteens with water watching her splash like someone having fun. His mind raced as he pulled his personal diary out and started to write.

I remember Jean you and me talked about children. How I could have been a great father. But once I became the Atom you never brought it up anymore. Was you scared what I did as a hero would cause you or if we had a child , harm ? I can't help but believe you may have realized , once I started the world and its problems came first and you somehow started to become second.

Maxine is a nice girl. A bit impulsive but someone nice. Its good to have company out here while I write this journal.


"Whatcha writing , Ray ?" the girl asked while climbing out of the water.

"Its a personal book to document my travels. I started carrying it a few months back." Palmer answered while the young girl went behind some bushes to change into dry clothes.

"Anything about me ?" Maxine asked .

"Maybe ... if I ...get sick or I get ..killed out her Maxine I want you to make me a promise. Can you do that ?" Ray asked .

Maxine breathed hard at the thought coming out changed in dry clothes , "Ok I guess. You did save me twice so far."

"This journal or book I'm writing has to make it back to your father. If I die or get sick , this has to make it to your colony ok." he stated.

"You want me to take a book to my colony ? Is it some serious book ?" she asked.

"It has scientific equations inside it on the virus. It also has things I have seen and how it could help your colony if they branch out to travel this world." Palmer answered while putting the book back in his sack.

Maxine nodded her approval , "Ok , Mr.Scientist I will do that."

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Later

The hours passed while they walked and talked. Lucky for Ray Palmer , Maxine seemed able to handle the talking part all herself and kept him entertained enough . Eventually the two walked into a weird scene of a town under a hill . Which had Palmer stop and pull out an old spyglass and retracted it out while Maxine watched.

"I don't see a Dog Squad so we seem to be safe." Palmer started then gasped a bit , "T-This can't be right. There is people down there."

"The hell you say..." Maxine replied stunned.

"Here look for yourself." Palmer said handing her the spyglass.

Maxine watched as the people seemed to be doing every day things in a small town. Interacting , shopping and not a care in the world. The cars moved as well it seemed. Both her and Palmer stood there a few seconds . Then she handed the spyglass back as he took yet another long look to inspect things .

"Its insane ...a whole town...not effected by it ? How do they survive out here ?" she asked.

"They could have established trade with another town . The cars running is amazing. Because one of the 1st things to go was fuel. Maybe they use it on a strict basis to conserve it." he answered.

"Are we going down there Ray ?" Maxine asked.

"We have to. I have to know how this town exists . If there is more it can only help us." he answered again , walking on down the hill.

The two slowly walked into the town admiring things while the people chatted and stopped. They stared at the two figures walking into the town while Palmer tried to be cool. The atmosphere went from happy to one that was growing tense while him and Maxine walked .

"Ray they seem kinda surprised . Maybe you should say something." she suggested.

Palmer walked to the main part of the town where the small park was where people were. He stopped and turned , "My name is Ray Palmer...who here is in charge ?"

The people gave no answer which worried Palmer as he rubbed his beard. Perhaps it was fear that kept the town's people from answering while they stared at him and Maxine. Maybe the town had never had a new visitor in the time .

"I want to speak to your mayor...or person in charge." he stated again.

This was met with more silence. By this point Maxine herself started to get worried while she walked over to him and whispered , "Ray , what is going on here ? These people don't wanna answer."

"I...I don't know Maxine. Its puzzling. Lets go to that General store and stock up on goods and maybe someone will answer us." he replied.

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Inside the General store

Ray and Maxine walked into the old general store in the middle of town. The store was something Ray realized seemed so out of date. Twenty to thirty years to be exact out of date. The people inside chatting suddenly stopped and stared. Palmer walked over to the old man behind the counter where he put down his list.

"I need these if you have them shop keeper." Palmer said.

Like in town the shop keeper never moved and just stared . Which was frustrating Palmer more and more, "Look old man ...what kind of town is this where someone won't talk or answer anyone ?"

Maxine stared while Palmer bit his lip and studied the situation. He started to back up where Maxine was at . He undid his duster and threw it off. She stared and watched Ray study the room and silence from these people.

"When I move , I want you to duck behind the counter and not move ...understand." he said low.

Palmer suddenly ran over and used his strength from his Atom abilities to reach and break the neck of the shop keeper. Maxine was stunned as she quickly moved behind the bar ducking . Sparks flew as the head twisted off as Palmer held it. Tossing it to the ground in a heap. His eyes turned back to the people inside the General store who suddenly started to move around to surround him .

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Ray Palmer watched them move and suddenly their hands flipped over and guns were there. He quickly shrank down as bullets fired into the counter as Maxine covered her ears while they fired . Palmer came up and enlarged himself once they stopped firing and pulled his energy sword. Slashing and smashing his way through the machines there. Pain shooting through his body as he finally finished the last 2 off , collapsing into a chair.

"Y-You can come out now Maxine ..." he said easing over and throwing up .

"Your sick...you knew you were." she said .

"I'm sick...b-but not with the virus. Grab whatever is eatable . I doubt there is much here." Palmer said wiping his face.

Maxine checked the store shelves grabbing whatever that was able to be eaten and what they needed from the list. She watched him relax in the chair , "How ...how did you know they were robots ?"

"It was something in the way they reacted. Not every human is gonna react like they did. Least of all a General Store owner who wants to make something off a stranger in town." Palmer answered.

"You can admit it , you guessed." she joked loading their sacks they needed.

"Ok I guessed in a way. Lets get out of here before things get worse." he replied.

The two walked out and saw the robots were staring at them still. Palmer and Maxine walked quickly and saw more had blocked a path to the end of one part of the town. They turned and saw the other path being blocked. Suddenly a huge screen flicked on in the middle.

"Welcome....welcome....I only knew it was a matter of time before the mighty Justice League would come and ruin my perfect town. Now you will DIE." the man said on the video screen.

Palmer stared and only replied , "Morrow..."

Next issue Box

Atom - Last Man on Earth - T.O Morrow's weird robotic town could be the death of Maxine and Ray. Can they survive this town and confront Morrow ?